Introduction to WordPress Themes and Plugins (Plus How to Install Them)

Introduction to WordPress Themes and Plugins (Plus How to Install Them)

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The core WordPress platform provides a decent range of options for personalizing your website. It also enables you to add to and edit your site’s code in any way you see fit. However, if you want true flexibility but don’t have the time or experience required to make changes by hand, you’ll need some additional tools.

In other words, you should check out the extensive world of WordPress themes and plugins. These are add-ons that enable you to customize how your site looks and functions, and there are thousands of them available. No matter what you want to do – manage a forum, build an online store, or completely change the design of your site – there’s a WordPress-specific tool out there that will help you accomplish the task with minimal fuss.

If you don’t know anything about themes and plugins yet, don’t worry. To help you out, we’ll explain what they are, where to find them, and how to begin using them to your advantage. Let’s start with the basics!

What Are WordPress Themes and Plugins?

Total is an example of a WordPress theme that can help you customize the appearance of your site.

Before we discuss how to find and install themes and plugins, lets talk about what they are. After all, if you’re new to WordPress, you might never have heard these terms before.

In a nutshell, themes and plugins are individual pieces of software that function as add-ons to the core WordPress platform. You can install a theme or plugin to get access to additional features. A WordPress website needs a theme to exist, but it doesn’t need any plugins. (That said, the likelihood of you eschewing plugins is extremely remote.)

A theme is an add-on that controls your site’s appearance – what it looks like and how it’s laid out. Some themes are very simple and might only change basic things about your site’s design, such as colors and fonts. Many themes, however, offer a variety of new layouts and styles. Either way, you usually have the ability to customize your theme to suit your needs. You can find flexible themes that are adaptable to many situations (such as our very own Total), or you can look for a theme with options and layouts specific to the type of site you’re creating (such as a business theme or a wedding theme.)

If you want to change something about the way your site functions, however, you’ll need a plugin. The purpose of a plugin is to add new features or functionality to your site (or expand on what already exists). No matter what you want to do with your site, there’s almost certainly a plugin that can make it possible. Some enable simple changes, such as adding new widgets to your back end, while others give you access to entirely new features, such as a calendar or an online store. There are also plugins that can help you with practical tasks like ensuring your site’s security.

It’s impossible to describe all the different theme and plugin options out there. Now that you understand how these crucial tools work, however, let’s talk about how to find the ones you want.

Where to Find the Best WordPress Themes and Plugins

There are thousands of themes and plugins available online, and they come in many varieties – free and premium, simple and complex. You can often find the ones you need by conducting a simple search. However, since anyone who wants to can build a theme or plugin, it can be difficult to know which ones are reliable and won’t negatively impact your site.

That’s why it can be helpful to visit a directory where themes and plugins are listed, rated, and commented on. You can also go straight to the website of a reputable company that is known for creating dependable add-ons. Here is just a sampling of some excellent places to look for themes and plugins:

If you’re not sure where to start, we’d recommend checking out the official WordPress directories first – everything there is completely free, and you can view ratings from other users. Also, take a look at our previous posts on how to buy a theme and how to choose the best plugin for advice to guide you in your search.

How to Install WordPress Themes and Plugins

If you’re looking for add-ons from WordPress.org, you can install themes and plugins directly from the WordPress back end. Otherwise, you’ll first need to download the file you want and save it to your computer, then follow the relevant instructions below. The file should be zipped – don’t extract it!

Installing a WordPress Theme

To install a theme, first navigate to Appearance > Themes in your WordPress back end. Then, click on the Add New button at the top of the screen:

On the next screen, click on the Upload Theme button and select Choose File. Navigate to the place where you saved the zipped theme file, and open it. You’ll be taken back to the Add Themes screen, where you can select Install Now:

The installer will take a moment to run, after which you’ll get a message telling you that the theme has been successfully installed. At this point you can preview the theme, or choose Activate to start using it right away:

That’s it! Your new theme is ready to go.

Installing a WordPress Plugin

Plugins are installed in essentially the same way as themes. Start by navigating to Plugins and choosing Add New at the top of the screen:

On the next screen, click on the Upload Plugin button and select Choose File. Find and open the zipped plugin file on your computer, then click the Install Now button:

After a moment, a message will display telling you if the plugin was installed successfully. At this point, simply click on Activate Plugin:

Your new plugin is now ready to use! Some plugins may require additional setup once activated – check the page you downloaded the plugin from or the developer’s website for more information if necessary.

Conclusion

The ready availability of themes and plugins is one of the most compelling reasons to use WordPress. The core platform is pretty fantastic on its own, but when you start including themes and plugins, you suddenly have access to nearly limitless options. No matter the type of site you want to create, the wider world of WordPress offers a tool to get the job done – most likely in a simple and affordable way.

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About Us

We have developed plugins in the Open Source Community for WordPress, WordPress Multisite, Joomla, Woocommerce, Oxwall and Magento. We also developed different custom plugins made in accordant to our customers’ specifications.